Wednesday 2 September 2015

Sewing the Shadows Together by Alison Baillie

Sewing the Shadows Together
By Alison Baillie
Published by Matador (7 August 2015)
ISBN: 978-1784623555


Publisher's description
Can you ever get over the death of your sister? Or of your best friend? More than 30 years after 13-year-old Shona McIver was raped and murdered in Portobello, the seaside suburb of Edinburgh, the crime still casts a shadow over the lives of her brother Tom and her best friend Sarah. When modern DNA evidence shows that the wrong man was convicted of the crime, the case is reopened. So who did kill Shona? Sarah and Tom are caught up in the search for Shona's murderer, and suspicions fall on family and friends. The foundations of Sarah's perfect family life begin to crumble as she realises that nothing is as it appears. Dark secrets from the past are uncovered, and there is another death, before the identity of the real killer is finally revealed…

My verdict
Sewing the Shadows Together is a brilliant novel, with dark secrets at its core.

Over 30 years ago, 13-year-old Shona was raped and murdered. When her best friend Sarah meets Shona's brother Tom again after all these years, it brings back memories of that horrific time in their lives. Then the police reveal that the case has been reopened, as the man convicted for the crime has been cleared by DNA evidence. So the question is - who did kill Shona all those years ago?

Alison Baillie has a very vivid way of writing, and I found myself fully immersed in her characters' lives. There are many different suspects, from family members to friends and teachers. DNA testing can reveal the killer, but only if the police find the right person to test. Meanwhile Sarah's family life begins to fall apart as secrets are revealed and revelations come to light. And Tom is learning where he belongs after drifting through life for years since his sister was murdered.

This is a brilliant tightly-plotted debut. It's not a police procedural, but rather a thriller with many twists and turns to lead the reader off track. It's thought-provoking and will keep you guessing until the end.

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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